While the confluence of homelessness and substance use in Boston’s “Mass and Cass” space persists, Mayor Michelle Wu argued Monday that situations on the bottom have improved dramatically within the yr since she took workplace.
Wu, who has drawn criticism from a spread of fellow policymakers and neighborhood leaders over the continuing points close to Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, mentioned her communication about response to the continuing disaster has fallen brief at occasions however in any other case touted her administration’s method as a hit.
Asked in an interview on WBUR’s Radio Boston to determine a “red X” from her first yr in workplace, Wu mentioned she “didn’t claim the right framing for our efforts.”
“It is night and day from where we were a year ago,” Wu mentioned. “It is 80%, 90%, even, better than where we started a year ago where people were dying on the streets and there were fires and rampant diseases spread from a rodent infestation and widespread human trafficking in structures that we didn’t really know what was going on inside.”
Wu mentioned that though the problem is “not solved,” town’s method to the encampments, frequent drug use and psychological well being points current at Mass. and Cass has served as a nationwide instance of the way to handle homelessness and habit.
Her optimism isn’t universally shared. Wu moved in January to clear encampments from the world, and whereas officers consider there at the moment are fewer folks concerned, experiences are nonetheless widespread about folks congregating close to Mass. and Cass, usually promoting or utilizing medication.
Last month, Wu advised WBUR about 20 tents “come up and down every other day.” She mentioned town had labored to face up about 200 items of “wraparound” supportive housing, however that Boston can be unable to handle the state of affairs by itself and wanted “the state to step up.”
Wu’s remarks in October prompted a public spat with Gov. Charlie Baker, who mentioned the state performed a key position in improvement of low-threshold housing and put $40 million towards addressing homelessness and habit points.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”